The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-11
PROBLEMS OF The CENSUS
Carroll =. Wrights Address TO the
Social Science Association.
YsEiscfeus statistiss-No Increase OF
Pauperism-I naccuracy Of
IAdastrial Reports.
IsprorLL TO rHn LrrrAL.I

bAkATO0h, ~. CeptemDer "
Before the Social Science Associa-
ton, which convened this week, the
president Col. Carroll B. Wright, Chief
Of the Bureau Of Labor Statistics ut
Washington, delivered an important
address on Problems of the Census. ~
What he said will abolish many OF
the stock arguments used in labor
and social science discussions, for il
shows that the figures chiefly on
which it is argued that the poor are
getting poorer are utterly untrust-
worthy. The bearings OF this crit,-
sism Of statistics OF labor and CAPT
tai on current discussion give the
address greater popular interest
than any similar paper that has been
read for many years. He made con :
fession and proof that the statistics
about our industrial condition are
fallacious, and that many statistics
OF social science are viciously mis-
used. Such confession and proof
from, perhaps, the highest statistical
authority in the country, will 20 far
toward knocking the props out of
many statements about the indus
trial condition OF the United States
which hove hitherto been generally
accepted as facts. Col. Wright showed
some Of the
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE CENSUS.
Among those which he pointed
ont are the following: The STATIC
tics for illiteracy, for example, are
from inherent conditions incorrect,
because there are thousands OF iami.
lies who do not confess TO the enum-
orators that they have members who
cannot read or write. Another in.
stance OF necessary error is the cen
sus OF the insane, which has not yet
even Appropriated accuracy because
very large number Of insane per-
sons who are not confined in public
institutions are never counted.
Neither can the prevalence of idiocy
beaccurately measured because peo-
pie will not tell that they have idi-
otto members Of their families.
Likewise many local censusos, as
well as the Federal census Of mortal.
ity, are yet In many cases far from
approximate accuracy. But all
enumerations OF this kind err
on the favorable side. The num-
Der OF illiterate and idiotic and in
sane persons and OF deaths is always
900 small, Conclusions drawn from
them are not always vicious or
wrong, but conclusions drawn from
comparative statistics OF these kinds
are almost sure TO be misleading.
tor example, II the census of the
insane at one date be taken moro ac-
curately than at q preceding date
(Which is nearly always the easel. a
comparison would indicate an in
crease OF insanity which the facts do
not warrant. The increase is really
what may be called an increase of
accuracy in enumeration. Compar-
alive statistics on these subjects.
therefore, which seem 10 show an
alarming increase in ignorance or
insanity are misleading.
But a far moro general and moro
important error OF the same kind is
made In dealing with
COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS or PAU
PERISH.
Our pauperism increases much fast
or stalis,ically than actually. In the
early statistics OF pauperism were |
sounted only the inmates Of the |
poor houses. AS census taking be- |
comes more Of science an effort IL
made TO include all the real paupers
In theland, very Insignificant por.
ton Of which Is In aims houses or
can be classified a. mendicancy. The
increase Of poverty, therefore, which
the statistics show, may not and
probably does not exist. As census
taking becomes more and more nc.
curate, comparative statistics be.
tween the past aud the present be.
come moro aud moro misleading.
Since Il Is from conclusions based
on these comparative social statistics
that the present discomfort largely
springs, and tho prosebt labor agita.
ton owes much OF It's force aud vital.
ity, this high warning against such
oomparisOns is the soyerest blow
that has been dealt 10 the agitation
OF alarm. Even worse. ~ the basis
or sound con clusion are the
STATISTICS op CAPITAL AND WAGES.
Owing both 10 the kind Of inquir.
les that have been made and 10 tho
unwillinnoss OF tho manufacturers
and capitalists 10 give away their
business" a. they regard H., the sta
tistics on capital invested in any KIDD
Of manufactures hitherto reported In
any American census we're shown by
Col. Wright 20 be utterly wrong.
The enumsrators have generally
asked for the amount OF capital aotu.
ally paid in, whereas, the only sould
basis Tor a computation Is the amount
OF capital actually used. II a man.
uiacturer with $1,000 capital turns
out 300 worth OF goods, sells the
goods for cash aud buys his material
on long time, aud then turns out
another 1900 worth Of goods before
the year is ended. plainly he has used
much more than this original
1900 as capital during the year. To
ascertain the capital really employed
~ the task Of the book Keeper, aud
his calculation must be based on the
Development aud tie rapidly Of the
returns OF the establishment, aud not
simply on the original amount OF
money paid down.
And 40 tho averages OF wages.
which we're calculated by dividing
the number Of employees on the nav
roll into the aggregate amount paid
a. wages, Is ial.aciou-, for the mum.
Der Of hands vary during the wear.
the time they make varies, and their
wares are too various to be thus
grouped together.
lt follows, Of course, that the
sweeping calculations Of the profits
OF manufacturers based on these re-.
turns OF capital aud wages are utter.
ly wrong. These two questions
capital invested ADD average wages
A. answered BY the census aid